Presenter/Facilitator: Al Hsu, Associate Editorial Director, InterVarsity Press
Description: One of the most daunting parts of writing for publication is developing one’s platform. Every book proposal requires some statement of author platform. But contrary to popular belief, platform is not just celebrity or social media numbers. Platform is about your alignment with your book’s purpose and your capacity to bring it to an intended audience. In this workshop, IVP associate editorial director Al Hsu explores a theology of platform as an expression of vocation and calling, and he unpacks three key dimensions of platform. We will look at case studies of different kinds of platforms and ways that authors can cultivate platforms in ways that are consistent with who they are. Those attending this workshop will gain ideas for strengthening one’s platform for improved potential of proposal acceptance and successful book launch.
Al Hsu (pronounced “shee”) (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is associate editorial director at InterVarsity Press, where he acquires and develops books in such areas as church, culture, mission, apologetics, and social issues. In over twenty-five years at IVP, he has worked with over 300 authors and published more than 400 titles, including award-winning books by Michael Card, Mark Charles, Andy Crouch, Makoto Fujimura, Dominique Gilliard, Os Guinness, Tara Beth Leach, Soong-Chan Rah, Sarah Shin, Rachel Marie Stone, Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Richard Twiss, Sandra Van Opstal, and Terry Wildman. He has published books in partnership with such organizations as the Billy Graham Center, the Christian Community Development Association, International Justice Mission, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Missio Alliance, Operation World, the Urbana Student Missions Conference, The Veritas Forum, and World Relief.
Al has served as a columnist for Christianity Today magazine. He has taught writing workshops and seminars for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, Frederick Buechner Writer’s Workshop, Publishing in Color, Writing for Your Life, Christianity & Communication Studies Network, Oregon Christian Writers, Missio Alliance, Write to Publish, and Churches for the Sake of Others. He is the author of three books: Grieving a Suicide, The Suburban Christian, and Singles at the Crossroads. He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons. Connect with Al here: https://www.ivpress.com/albert-y-hsu
